Just a little while after close of business today, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos has finally announced Senate republicans are sending the same-sex marriage to the Senate floor for a vote. Here’s the text of his statement:

“After many hours of deliberation and discussion over the past several weeks among the members, it has been decided that same sex marriage legislation will be brought to the full Senate for an up or down vote.

The entire Senate Republican Conference was insistent that amendments be made to the Governor’s original bill in order to protect the rights of religious institutions and not-for-profits with religious affiliations. I appreciate the Governor’s cooperation in working with us to address these important issues and concerns.

As I have said many times, this is a very difficult issue and it will be a vote of conscience for every member of the Senate.”

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20 Comments on “Same-sex marriage is finally going to the Senate floor for a vote!”

“and it will be a vote of conscience.”
Does this mean legislators do not usually vote their conscience?
If they don’t normally vote their conscience, then what does this say of them and how they usually vote?

“Deputy Majority Leader Thomas Libous of Binghamton, who opposes gay marriage, said that after hours of passionate debate behind closed doors he still doesn’t know if there are enough votes to pass the bill.

“We’ve had some great conferences and nobody was told to vote yes or no,” he said. “People spoke from their hearts.”

Marriage was understood before our country started. It was essentially undefined in law because it was understood. This is a corruption. It was not the place of any government (or court) to re-define it. It is not the place of government. Government where it should not be needs to be changed. This was a civil law decision and it was wrongly made because government had no jurisdiction.

All things are possible but not all things are good.

This was a foul putrid decision. A decision of laziness & cowardice. I saw little effort to consider civil unions. A substantial lack of respect for marriage. Done in the cover of darkness.

Equality? Hardly…. It is an insult. Spit in my face. Pollution of social order. Disrespect for God. Shortsighted of man. Ignorance. Without wisdom. Folly.

@Jeff; Speaking of, ‘understandings’, it is my understanding that people have a right to be free of your religious beliefs, such as god, etc. Another ‘understanding’ of mine is that defining legal relationships and protections is exactly what government is supposed to do. Sadly, the issue of gay marriage should never have been an issue of majorities deciding personal liberties for individuals. Perhaps, if people understood the bill of rights, this discussion could have been avoided altogether.

Many who consider themselves to be “religious” like to claim they know how God thinks and feels. What I see are people who want to make God into their own likeness and image.
It is very presumptuous to think a human being can offend God. It’s about as illogical to think a flea can offend you or me.